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more tiny kitchen storage

I needed a place to hang some kitchen utensils but I didn’t have any space in my kitchen except for the side of the cabinet next to the sink. Trouble was I couldn’t find any bars short enough for the 11-inch depth of the cabinet. I spent way too long thinking up the obvious answer: use a cabinet handle instead. (Since they attach from a screw from the inside of the cabinet* the handle would’t work as a solution for a wall.)

Note: This is obviously not something you would do to kitchen cabinets you like a lot as it will leave rather large holes. I do not love my cabinets.

I wanted to use hooks that wouldn’t fall off the bars (hooks shaped like an upside down 6 instead of an S) so I had to choose a handle the hooks could slide on to. I bought 9-inch Attest handles from Ikea and Grundtal hooks that you can find in the bath section of Ikea (they fit the Grundtal kitchen stuff as well).

The only thing I took care about was to make sure the lower bar was set high enough so that the things I hung there wouldn’t hang down past the bottom of the cabinet. We transfer dirty dishes from that side, through the sink and to the dishwasher or dish drainer on the left side of the sink and I could foresee becoming frustrated by knocking into the tips of the kitchen tongs if they hung too low. I was afraid my kitchen might look cluttered with even more stuff hanging out in the open, but so far it simply looks cheerful.

* I had to take some time to make that not sound naughty, I mean, the easiest way to say that is that they attach by a screw from behind. You know?

· comments [37] · 08-16-2007 · categories:the home ·

37 responses so far ↓

  • 1 renee // Aug 16, 2007 at 5:34 am

    what a great idea! i think it looks very modern and you can daydream about meals you will make with those utensils, all while washing the dishes.

    sometimes the answers/solutions are right in front of us and we don’t even notice. this will forever amaze/baffle me.

    i love coming to your site for inspiration. thanks!

  • 2 A different Megan // Aug 16, 2007 at 5:45 am

    I am totally copying this!

  • 3 lekkercraft // Aug 16, 2007 at 6:20 am

    That is incredibly clever!

  • 4 planetjune // Aug 16, 2007 at 6:56 am

    What a great idea – I may have to do something similar in my new kitchen. (And isn’t IKEA just the best store ever for this kind of thing?) Thanks for the inspiration!

  • 5 manda // Aug 16, 2007 at 7:02 am

    I really like this. But I really like my cabinets. I don’t want to screw them from behind. haha. I wish I had some sort of bar running right behind my stove that I could hang utensils on…hmm..Now, I’m going to spend my day scheming up ways to get one back there.

  • 6 Krista // Aug 16, 2007 at 7:23 am

    i love that solution – it answers a problem i’ve been trying to figure out for myself… can’t believe i never thought of using handles! you’re a genius :D

  • 7 JW // Aug 16, 2007 at 7:45 am

    Very clever solution, simple and tidy-looking. One could also do this to provide little towel-drying racks.

    Manda, if you’re talking metal utensils, could you install a magnetic knife bar, and just stick stuff to it? I luuuuv my knife bar.

  • 8 Jennifer // Aug 16, 2007 at 8:05 am

    Man, what a great idea! I’ll ned to tuck this idea away in my mental file cabinet – I don’t have the best storage in my kitchen either, but being a single person that doesn’t cook, bake or entertain in huge droves, it’s fine…

  • 9 Jackie // Aug 16, 2007 at 9:11 am

    You should submit this to ikea hacker.
    http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/
    They are a;ways on the look out for alternative uses for ikea products.

  • 10 kate // Aug 16, 2007 at 10:13 am

    brilliant !
    (and SO martha, circa 1991)

  • 11 Sarah // Aug 16, 2007 at 11:32 am

    It looks really great. Organized & out of the way, but within range to grab them easily (and not cluttering up a drawer!).

  • 12 maryse // Aug 16, 2007 at 11:40 am

    great idea! i’m not in love with my cabinets either.

  • 13 Dawn // Aug 16, 2007 at 12:08 pm

    Totally brilliant Megan!! I’m going to try this AND the idea to use it as a mini towel bar. So smart! I actually love my tiny kitchen- it seems so efficient (at least that’s what I tell myself).

  • 14 kate // Aug 16, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    re: my entry at 10…

    {remove i-didn’t-explain-that-parenthetical-comment-very-well foot from mouth}

    which is NOT to say that it’s an idea martha had, but rather the kind of spirit of invention that made her so admirable and accessable!

    but then, you all are smart enough to get that, i’m sure…

  • 15 Jen // Aug 16, 2007 at 1:10 pm

    Your footnote…you crack me up.

  • 16 Liz // Aug 16, 2007 at 1:46 pm

    I used a plain stainless steel towel bar (hanging from the soffit over the stove) as a pot rack – cost a fraction of what they wanted for a pot rack. Would also work behind the stove for utensils.

  • 17 ex.libris // Aug 16, 2007 at 2:29 pm

    “* I had to take some time to make that not sound naughty, I mean, the easiest way to say that is that they attach by a screw from behind. You know? ”

    You would certainly increase your site traffic with phrases like that floating about. :)

    I think it looks great. I have the same exact tongs (Oxo, maybe?) and I love them. I use them as much as, or more often than, my big spoon.

  • 18 ex.libris // Aug 16, 2007 at 2:32 pm

    Also, your geranium window film looks great.

  • 19 megan // Aug 16, 2007 at 3:49 pm

    Kate – Not to worry, I got your meaning the first time around, but I did enjoy the clarification!

  • 20 austin // Aug 16, 2007 at 8:07 pm

    I love this! I am totally going to copy it.

  • 21 Grace // Aug 16, 2007 at 8:28 pm

    Re: Manda & JW

    I’m guessing most bars install w/ screws from behind (teehee) which makes installing them difficult on certain surfaces.

    Could you install a metal strip and use super strong magnetic hooks to hang utensils from? I have a magnetic bar (called BAR) from Ikea and use pushpin-shaped power magnets from Staples to hang necklaces and bracelets.

  • 22 cindy@staged4more // Aug 16, 2007 at 8:44 pm

    so simple yet so brilliant. i love this diy idea. it’s great for small spaces.

  • 23 miriam // Aug 18, 2007 at 9:18 am

    That’s a lot of tongs you got there, girl!

  • 24 Amber // Aug 20, 2007 at 1:35 pm

    I LOVE your ideas for small spaces. This is great.

  • 25 Barbara Watson // Jan 31, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    It’s great Where do I find the hooks!!!

  • 26 ellamama // Apr 9, 2008 at 6:31 am

    GENIUS!!! I’m so jealous that I didn’t think of that!

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  • 34 Laurie C. // May 11, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    great job! Looks really good. For a walls I would use the 3M Command stick and hang items. I rent so I use them for many things like this. I get the big ones and attach shelves/handles/rod ideas to them. That way no holes but I max out my extra spaces & can take it when I go with no holes or repairs needed. Sorry no pictures but they hold great amount of weights & are very versatile.

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  • 36 Norma // Jan 9, 2015 at 11:28 am

    Well darn it, only 7 years later and they no longer make the Attest handle that long and you can’t buy the “6” hooks, they only have “S” hooks. I live in an RV now and this is SO clever! I will continue the search to totally rip off this idea!! Thanks, Megan!!

  • 37 Sara // Aug 20, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    I did this UNDER my cabinets so that the bars (and utensils)hang down from the cabinets against the backsplash. No holes (visible anyway) in the cabinets that way.

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